Highlights & Basics
- A very common injury resulting from physical activity, including sports. Most common is adductor-related, iliopsoas-related, inguinal-related, and hip-joint-related groin pain.
- Most common presentation for intra-articular pathology of the hip joint; however, referred pain from other sources is not uncommon.
- Signs and symptoms typically include activity-related pain, pain with movement of the hip, and antalgic gait.
- The first-line diagnostic test for most conditions is a set of standard radiographs. More advanced imaging modalities, such as ultrasound and MRI, should be used with discretion when clinically indicated.
- Establishing the correct diagnosis is the first step to instituting appropriate treatment. Treatment may vary widely depending on the disease entity present.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
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Definition
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Citations
Hölmich P. Adductor-related groin pain in athletes. Sports Med Arthrosc. 1997;5:285-291.
Hölmich P, Uhrskou P, Ulnits L, et al. Effectiveness of active physical training as treatment for long-standing adductor-related groin pain in athletes: randomized trial. Lancet. 1999;353:439-443.[Abstract]
Thorborg K, Hölmich P, Christensen R, et al. The Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS): development and validation according to the COSMIN checklist. Br J Sports Med. 2011;45:478-491.[Abstract]
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